Fence.



PATENTED JULY l25, 1905,

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Ascun BCR/wwwa. nmuunnuw'muu. Imac IINITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER Gr. KRAFT, OF SHERMAN TOIWNSHIP, ST. JOSEPH COUNTY,

' MICHIGAN.

FENCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1905.

Application led December 8, 1902. Serial No. 134,360.

T0 @ZZ whmlt it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER G. KRAFT, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the township of Sherman, in the county of St. Josephand State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Fences, of which the following' is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fences.

The objects of the invention are to provide an improved fence made oflight and inexpensivematerials, which is strong, rigid, and durable;second, to provide an improved fence-post embodying the aboveadvantages. Further objects will definitely appear from the detaileddescription to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the followingspeciiication. The invention is clearlydefined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying` the features of my invention is fully illustratedin the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, inwhichq Figure l is a side elevation view of a structure embodying thefeatures of my invention.

' Fig. 2 is a detail transverse view taken on a line corresponding toline 2 2 of Fig. l, the posts and the anchorstherefor being shown infull lines to show their relations. Fig. 3 is an inverted view of thebody portion A of the post.

In the drawings similar letters of reference refer to similar partsthroughout the several views.

The sectional View is taken looking in the direction of the littlearrows at the ends of the section-lines.

Referring to the lettered parts of the drawings, I provide a bodyportion A for the post, preferably of wood. This is, preferably, of alength to correspond with the height of the fence which it is intendedto support, the longitudinal wires (t only of the fence beingillustrated in the drawings. The body portion A rests upon a base Ipreferably use a stone for this purpose. To the bottom of the bodyportion A, I secure ametal washer' L', which holds the body portion Aabove the base, so that there is a free circulation of air between,which prevents decay of the bottom of the post. The body portion A issupported in an upright position by anchors B. These anohors are formedof a loop of wire, the ends of the loop being passed aroundanchor-blocks c, small stones being used for the purpose. Theanchor-blocks, with the anchors secured, are buried in the ground toeach side of the post and at a distance of about two and onehalf feet ina lateral direction therefrom. The anchors are secured to the toplongitudinal strand a of the fence, which rests upon the top of thepost, by wrapping the wire loop of which they are formed about the same,the wires being arranged one to each side of the post, so that it issupported in all directions thereby. With the anchors thus in positionthey-are tightened, and tension is applied by twisting the wirestogether', as will clearly appear from the drawings.

The anchors are secured together near the ground, and the bottom of thepost is secured thereto and retained in position by a crossstay O. Thecross-stay O is secured to the anchors below the bottom twist therein,so that it is prevented from slipping upward. The cross-stay O is formedof a wire loop which embraces the bottom of the post. Tension is appliedthereto by twisting. This tightening of the cross-stay O also appliestension to the anchors B by drawing them inward and forms in connectiontherewith a triangular support for the body portion A of the post. Withthe parts thus arranged it is immaterial from what direction the stressis delivered to the post. It is sustained throughout by both of theanchor-wires, and as all of the stress upon the wires is a suspensionand pulling stress they may be of comparatively light material and postssustain a very great pressure, all the strain upon the' wires beingdelivered to call into actionv only their tensile strength.

To prevent decay from the top of the post, I provide a cap A',preferably of sheet metal, which is placed over the top strand a of thefence. Thisl supports the same in position, so that the air is free tocirculate over the top of the post and protects the post from becomingwater-soaked.

As the post is so rigidly braced in all directions, the body portion Amay be made` of very light material and still be very durable, as thestrain thereon is reduced to a minimum. It is also supported out ofcontact with the soil, so that the air is free to circulate about thesame and its liability to decay is reduced to a minimum.

The anchor and stay wires, as before remarked, may be comparativelylight and still support the post in a manner to withstand a very greatstrain, as the strain is distributed throughout the structure.

As the anchor-blocks C are embedded in the earth, it is found entirelypractical to use comparatively small ones without danger of loosening. Ipreferably use stones for these anchor-blocks and for the base of thepost, though it is evident that artificial stone could be substituted,or even blocks of Wood thus buried in the ground will be found verydurable.

Other variations in structural details will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art to which my invention relates.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is"

l. In a fence, the combination of a post consisting of a body portion Aand a base portion I); a metal washer L' on the bottom or' said bodyportion; astrand of a fence resting upon the top of said post; anchorsfor said post consisting' of a loop of wire secured to the saidfence-strand at each side of said post; anchor-blocks c for saidanchors; and a crossstay C consisting of a loop of Wire arranged toembrace the said body portion A near its base and secured to saidanchors, the wires forming said loop being' twisted together to applytension thereto; and a metallic cap 'for said post, all coacting For thepurpose specified.

2. In a fence, the combination of a post consisting ot' a body portion Aand a base portion a metal washer on the bottom of said body portion; astrand of a fence resting upon the top of said post; anchors for saidpost consisting of a loop of wire secured to the said fence-strand ateach side of said post; anchor-blocks c for said anchors; and acrossstay C consisting' of a loop of wire arranged to embrace the saidbody portion A near its base and secured. to said anchors the wiresforming said loop being` twisted together to apply tension thereto, allcoacting for the purpose specilied.

In witness whcreo` I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presenceoil two witnesses.

CHRISTOPHER G. KRAFT. [1).

Witnesses:

H. C. KRAFT, THos. J. COLLINS.

